The University of Parma successfully hosted Professor Taís Veronica Cardoso Vernaglia, Director of the historic “Alfredo Pinto” School of Nursing at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, the oldest nursing school in Brazil, which this year celebrates the 135th anniversary of its foundation.
During her visit, Professor Vernaglia met with Professor Nadia Monacelli, Director of the University Centre for International Cooperation, and Professor Stefano Bettati, Director of the Department of Medicine and Surgery, with whom she discussed the potential for initiating academic collaborations in the fields of mental health, public health, and innovation in nursing education. Subsequently, together with Professor Antonio Bonacaro, she was received by the Rector, Professor Paolo Martelli. The meeting highlighted the mutual agreement on the importance of strengthening the partnership between the two universities, including through the design of joint degree programmes and international mobility initiatives.
In parallel, Professor Vernaglia conducted two seminars attended by a wide audience of teaching tutors, undergraduate and postgraduate nursing students, and faculty members from the Department. The seminars provided an overview of the evolution of the “Alfredo Pinto” School of Nursing and addressed the integration of mental health into clinical practice, with a focus on the impact of public health policies in Brazil and the crucial role played by nurses in promoting equity and addressing global health challenges.
Professor Vernaglia’s visit represented an important milestone not only in the educational and cultural enrichment of students but also in laying the foundations for new institutional synergies between the University of Parma and the Brazilian university, in view of a closer international dialogue and a high-quality nursing education.
